Other than the suspension of coach Sean Payton and the bounty scandal that engulfed the team throughout the spring and summer, the biggest concern of Saints' fans this offseason wasn't a problem after all.

Nervous fans were relieved when quarterback Drew Brees received a five-year, $100 million contract from the team on July 15, ensuring that he wouldn't hold out in training camp.

When Brees arrived for start of training camp July 24 and was with the team when it held its first real practice two days later, he didn't look like a player who had skipped all of the offseason workouts -- including the organized team activities and veteran minicamp.

After a bit of a slow start in the team's first full-speed practice, when his first three passes of team drills were broken up or deflected, Brees showed he wasn't just sitting around this spring and summer.

"Outstanding," Saints interim head coach Joe Vitt said when asked about Brees' first performance. "I don't think anybody's eyes lied to him. You guys were here and saw the practice."